Movie Review: The Social Network

Ok. I have to admit I was really skeptical about The Social Network despite the across the board good reviews. I was initially turned off by super melodramatic trailer. While I usually take a lot of joy out of hearing choirs of children singing, hearing their rendition of "Creep" by Radiohead almost made me boycott the movie all together. Well, that and the fact that I don't really care about Mark Zuckerberg or what he supposedly did.

I am truly a cinephile, so when my husband said that he wanted to see it, I decided that I should just suck it up and go. From the very first scene I was hooked. A scene of snappy dialouge between Mark (Jesse Eisenberg) and his girlfriend Erica (Rooney Mara) really sets the pace for the rest of the film, and it also accomplishes incredible character revelation. It's kind of hard to think of Mark as anything other than a totally self-absorbed obtuse jerk after the way he talks to his girlfriend.

The script is practically flawless. If Aaron Sorkin isn't nominated for an Oscar, I'll be surprised. He expertly crafts a story weaving together the intricate details with the intimacies of Mark and Eduardo Saverin's (Andrew Garfield) friendship. Both Eisenberg and Garfield are incredible on screen. Eisenberg plays the role of Mark as someone so smart he's nearly autistic, and Garfield plays the role of Eduardo as an emotional, thoughtful guy who just wants to help his friend out with his idea. They are polar opposites and if they are portrayed as they are in real life, well it's easy to see how their friendship could have suffered. I think it would have suffered at some point anyway, with or without the creation of Facebook.

The movie moves at a feverish pace, with scenes going back and forth between the events leading up to the creation of Facebook as well as the depositions of Mark, Eduardo, the Winklevoss twins, Carmeron and Tyler (Armie Hammer, who is insanely handsome, by the way) and various others involved in the lawsuit against Mark. It's during the depositions when we see who Mark truly is; he has himself convinced that he has done nothing wrong, and his arrogance and disdain for anyone in his way is apparent.

The question is, "When are you going to make another record, JT?"

We even get a great performance from Justin Timberlake in the role of Sean Parker, also known as the guy who founded Napster. It's obvious to see how Mark would be attracted to Sean. It was almost like a Fight Clubesque relationship - Sean was everything that Mark wasn't, and Sean reinforced how Mark felt about Facebook and what it should and shouldn't do for its users. We can see how Sean's influence began to change Mark, and it wasn't for the better.

I'd also like to add that the soundtrack is pretty incredible. Scored by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the music really heightens the emotion in a lot of the scenes. It highlighted the darkness that was just underneath the surface in Mark's personality, and it also helped to express the characters' feelings throughout the film. Once again, I'll be surprised if they don't get a nod at the Oscars.

Is this really how it went down? Who knows. Zuckerberg has come out and said that it's a work of fiction, but I can't imagine anyone being portrayed as poorly as he was in this film would have anything else to say. I can't imagine that it's been much fun for him to have his life splayed open in a public forum, but then again, Mark is laughing all the way to the bank. Dude is twenty-six and worth nearly seven billion dollars. While his public image may have taken a hit, I'm sure that he'll get over it.

This is a really great movie. It's well written, thought provoking and emotionally charged. If you like dramas about the human condition, friendship and betrayal, you'll enjoy this film. I feel like you don't even have to know what Facebook is to enjoy it, so if you don't know what to see and are just looking for something good, check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Movie Review: The Expendables and Bonus Stallone Love

Sylvester Stallone is the only celebrity I care about. I have mad love for the guy, and he has served as an inspiration to me and my writing ever since I can remember. Lots of people love to talk lots of smack about how he's so terrible at everything, but dude wrote Rocky in three days. He created one of the best characters ever in three days. THREE DAYS!

Yes, the man has been nominated for thirty Razzies and has won ten. He fully acknowledges that he's made some crappy films, and yeah, he has. But he's Stallone. The guy never gives up. In fact, the quote from Rocky Balboa pretty much sums him up (to me anyway), "I'd rather do something I love badly than to feel bad about not doing something I love."

I feel like if you're a creative person, you're going to need to have this kind of attitude. Not everyone is going to love everything you do all of the time (except when the person doing is Stallone and the everyone is me). I've pretty much accepted that I'm going to get knocked down and rejected when I put my work out there, and I'm all right with that. And once again, Sly says it pretty well: "No one likes to fail at anything, but I believe I'm a better person for it. I learned life's lessons. You're given certain gifts and that's what you should try to be."

Word.

Now onto the review. I rarely go to the movies at night, nonetheless on an opening night, but my husband wanted to go and I jumped on board. I had been watching the previews for The Expendables for over a year and I was all about it just for the cast alone: Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke. I just remember seeing their name scrolling across my screen and thinking, "Wow, this is going to be the best movie ever."

It wasn't the best movie ever, but it wasn't bad. While I usually like the schlocky tough guy dialogue, a good 75% of the film was The Expendables trying to convince themselves that they weren't bad people because they had spent most of their adult lives as mercenaries. It was a little more emo than I expected, and there was one scene in particular where Tool (Mickey Rourke) begins to cry as he recounts an old tale. A little shocking.

I did enjoy the father figure role that Stallone played in this movie. Barney, Stallone's character, was a tough guy with a soft and just side, which he played very well. Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) was also a very complex character who while not being a mercenary was busy trying to reconcile his relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Stallone and Statham were actually incredible on screen together, making for one of the best drive-bys ever. Statham also had an incredible scene at a basketball court. Stallone definitely showed Statham a lot of love when he gave him that role.

The supporting cast was also pretty good, except for Eric Roberts, who played the worst evil guy ever. He was like a cartoon, and at times he was actually painful to watch. Not good. I enjoyed Terry Crews as Hale Ceasar, a dude who loves him some big guns. Jet Li was pretty fun too. Dolph Lundgren was a little silly but he played the crazy/angry/scorned role pretty well. (But really, how much can we expect from this guy?)

The movie ends in a big, over the top way that I loved. The fight choreography was awesome, the explosions were huge, and the energy was fantastic. I did enjoy the movie overall and think that if you're a fan of action movies, you'd enjoy this. There are a lot of really good things about the film and I think they're enough to outweigh the few bad things. Check it out.

Movie Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Right from the very first second of the first preview I had seen for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I knew I had to see it. I loved the look of the preview - the slick video game feel, the witty humor and the over the top fighting scenes seemed like something I would really enjoy, even though I secretly didn't want to admit it. It isn't often that something new and fresh in entertainment comes along, but with Scott Pilgrim, I can honestly say that it really has.

From the opening scene, it's clear that the audience is going to be in for completely unique viewing experience. As Scott (Michael Cera) walks around his apartment, little boxes pop up with information about his roommate and friends, just like they would in a video game. It's clear right away that belief needs not only be suspended, but shattered. When people kiss, tiny pink hearts leave their lips and flutter around them. Doors magically appear and people fly through them. Scott punches another character clear up into the air. He jumps through a window to avoid his girlfriend, then jumps back in to grab his coat.

All of this stuff is incredibly cool, but the story is actually pretty good. I have to admit I didn't think I was going to be able to get into it because I tend to really dislike romantic comedies. I also didn't think that I would like a story centered on yet another cool nerd cliched character. Somehow, it all worked together and produced something that made me smile throughout the entire movie.

I'm just going to add here that I feel like the imminent Michael Cera backlash will be coming soon. During the movie I tried to think about what was so great about him, and I couldn't really come up with any reasons as to why this kid is this popular. You know the universe will start hating on him any second now.

There were some parts where it felt rushed and other parts where it dragged. I just got my hands on the comic series so I'm curious to see how the characters develop throughout. Apparently there are much more detailed back stories for the exes, plus tons of other stuff I'm sure.

Should you see it? Definitely. While some of the older crowd might feel baffled by some of the references, I think that it's so unique that even if you don't understand, you won't be disappointed. I also scored a pretty cool guitar pick keychain that I've been rocking since the weekend, which was a nice added bonus.

Movie Review: The Other Guys

Another weekend past, another movie seen. This time it was The Other Guys, a comedy about an Odd Couple like team who end up busting a big time baddie. I was really looking forward to this film because I love Will Ferrell because he makes me laugh, and I love Mark Wahlberg because I love to laugh at him. I went into this with Anchorman expectations and left feeling like I just sat through another Ricky Bobby movie.

Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of hilarious parts in this movie. I laughed out loud quite a few times and thought that the over the top acting on the part of the cast was absolutely perfect. Mark Wahlberg was particularly hilarious as a miserable, angry cop who wants a chance to be in the spotlight. Will Ferrell was his usual unassumingly funny self, even if I thought a part of his character reveal was one of the most idiotic things I've seen in a long time. I really enjoyed Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson in their roles as the supercops. They were absolutely hysterical. Eva Mendes was all right. Michael Keaton was entertaining as the police chief. Are you noticing something here? No character names? Right, because I don't remember any of them and I'm not looking them up.

I know I should expect much of a plot from a comedy, but seriously, the story line in this movie was pure garbage. Bernie Madoff was the inspiration, with the character played by Steve Coogan as the leader of a Ponzi scheme. Most of the movie revolved around Marky Mark and Will trying to figure out exactly which was going on, which I think left the audience as confused as they were. By the time the movie was over, I didn't care what was going on. I just wanted to leave.

The worst part was that there were a lot of irrelevant jokes, like a running one about TLC songs. Really? The best the writers could come up with was references from 1999? Add in a completely out of left field credit roll with all kinds of pie charts and figures about CEOs and Fortune 500 companies, and there you have the randomness of this movie. Random is good, but at some point everything has to come together, and in this trainwreck, it didn't. I heartily suggest you avoid this at all costs, or at least wait until you can rent it. Don't encourage these people!

Seriously, I'm not even taking the time to look up a picture for this piece of crap. That's how bad it was.

Movie Review: Dinner for Schmucks

Ah, comedies. Sometimes you're not so funny. Sometimes all of your funny parts have been shown in previews, so that by the time I get to the theater, I've seen everything there is to see. I'm always really skeptical of comedies, mostly because I know how hard it is to write something that will make a wide range of people laugh. Dinner for Schmucks has gotten some lukewarm reviews, and I do agree that there are times when the film kind of drags, especially because it's a romantic comedy in disguise. But overall, I thought it was pretty entertaining, and I enjoyed that not every punchline was given away in the previews.

I know I mentioned in an earlier post that I like to be entertained. I find all forms of entertainment valid, even if they might not fit into the label of things I should like. This is something I have a real problem with. I actually broke up with a guy because he didn't think Joe Dirt was as hilarious as I did. He said it was beneath him to watch that kind of movie. I sent him packing, and he went home to rearrange his skinny tie collection while I stayed at my house and laughed my ass off. I guess if you're afraid of being judged for liking a certain kind of movie then maybe you have a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.

I like to laugh, and I certainly did during Dinner for Schmucks. What I particularly enjoyed were all of the cringe-worthy scenes they manages to pack into this film. That type of comedy is rare, and I thought it was done very well in this movie. I also loved how a lot of the dialogue was set ups and punchlines, which is a part of the reason why I love The Emperor's New Groove so very much.

Some of the stuff was a little mean, although the main character Tim (Paul Rudd), is aware that making fun of Barry (Steve Carell) is gross. But, the heart wants what it wants and Tim wants nothing more than to marry Julie (Stephanie Szostak) and get a big promotion at work. If you've seen the previews, then you know that Barry is the potential key to Tim getting that nice corner office. We basically watch Barry screw up Tim's life is ways that are hard to imagine, but in the end, everything works out. I don't think I'm spoiling anything here.

Jamaine Clement is hilarious in his role as Kieran, a hypersexual artist who has a thing for Julie. And even though Zach Galifianakis isn't in the movie for very long, he totally steals every scene he's in as Therman, Barry's boss and rival. The rest of the supporting cast is great too, although I wouldn't have minded some more Ron Livingston. Lucy Punch is really convincing as Darla, a woman who has been stalking Tim for years.

I will admit that I was not a fan of the crazy and/or stupid women in this film, although women are usually not treated very well in comedies, which is a shame. It was also tooth-achingly sweet at some points, which was strange but (I guess) all right. While this might not be a movie that you need to see on the big screen, I think it's definitely something worth watching. You'll leave the theater with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and that certainly isn't a bad thing.

Movie Review: Cyrus

Living in a small market area, I'm often disappointed that there are many indie movies that never make it to our theaters. When I saw the preview for Cyrus (in the movie theater, no less), I knew it was something I'd want to see. The tagline - "John meets the woman of his dreams. Then he met her son," grabbed me immediately. Imagine my surprise when I found that Cyrus was actually playing here in NEPA. Since yesterday afternoon was rainy and crappy, my husband and I decided to check it out.

John (John C. Reilly) is a divorcee who is still in love with his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) and still affected by their separation seven years later. Knowing how socially awkward John is, Jamie decides to invite him to a party after telling him that she is getting remarried, I suppose to soften the blow. He tells her he isn't going, then the next scene flashes to him sitting in front of a fire at said party. After a few drinks, he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei) while he's peeing in a bush. The spark is instantaneous and the two of them go back to John's apartment together.

But something's wrong. Molly never stays the night and seems to be in a hurry to get home. John wonders if she's married and decides to follow her back to wherever she's rushing to be. He eventually ends up at her home and falls asleep, and the next morning he wakes up in his car. John begins sneaking around her home when someone appears. A young man. Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

What follows is sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad, and sometimes very, very dark. Molly and Cyrus have a unique and close relationship, and Cyrus is not at all comfortable with John's feelings for his mother. I was amazed at Hill's acting chops; I cannot imagine anyone else playing that role. He played the manipulative, passive-aggressive, spoiled little brat that is Cyrus perfectly. When the relationship between John and Cyrus escalates near the end of the movie, Reilly and Hill are magical on the screen.

I definitely expected it to be a little sillier and have some more slapstick than it did mostly because of the past roles of Reilly and Hill. This is a smart, dark comedy with two guys who are known for their over the top kinds of roles playing more subdued, thoughtful men. Marisa Tomei was also pretty good as an over-protective single mom.  While she was supposed to be a woman completely out of John's league, but I found their supermodel styling of her a little distracting. Two and two were not adding up for me. Catherine Keener, as always, was phenomenal as John's honest and caring ex-wife and best friend.

While there were some things that didn't make sense, the heart of this movie was solid and pure. I enjoyed the performances and some of the dialogue was absolutely hilarious. I think anyone who has a darker sense of humor would really enjoy this film. It is romantic comedy, although it follows quite a different path than others in its genre. There's a lot to laugh at, but there are also plenty of cringe inducing scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought it was worth every penny we paid for the tickets.

Movie Review: Inception

I doubt there is a person alive who hasn't heard of Christopher Nolan's latest film, Inception. With all the hype surrounding the release, I have to admit I was just a little skeptical. Not that I doubt Mr. Nolan's ability to tell and present his audience with an incredible story, but I have fallen prey to the thought that watching a movie could be a life altering experience. After watching the movie today, I have to say that I'm glad I was proven wrong.

Inception is a film about dream hijackers who get into their subjects' subconsciousness to extract information. Sounds cool, right? Well, it is. To see the textures of a dream brought to crisp, crystal high definition was nothing short of visually stunning. I particularly enjoyed the use of natural environments to set the mood and tone. Nolan is a master at creating an experience for the audience, and he certainly did that in this film. My husband and I saw this in XD, and it was incredible. What was also pretty cool was that Nolan resisted the trend of making a 3D version of this film. I have the feeling it was because he knew he didn't need a gimmick to get people in the seats.

Back in the day, before YouTube, Hulu and the general playground that is the internet were easily available to me, I had a membership at Blockbuster that I used on an almost daily basis. I would rent four movies at a time, and since I didn't have cable, I usually watched two or three of them a night. It was during this period when I found Memento and then Following, then a few years after that, I saw Insomnia in the theater. Nolan's skills as a writer and director really gripped me, and his unique point of view left me hungry for more. What I loved the most were his characters.

Dark, brooding, complex and unaware what is happening to them, Nolan's characters are always the focus. While the stories in each of the films are excellent, the characters are the gems. Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is our hero, the man who leads the rest of the dream squad because of his knowledge and expertise. As the story unfolds, we find that he's deeply disturbed and haunted by his past. Ellen Page plays Ariadne, a young college student who has the brains and ability to be one of the best. Her heart is what sets her apart from the rest of the crew, and she is also strong and complicated.

The cast turns in believable performances, and each of them holds their own. I was slightly surprised by Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance, as I didn't expect that Tommy Solomon could have any kind of presence on screen next to Leo. He did an excellent job playing the loyal sidekick, and his past role as a funny kid definitely came into play during the film. Marion Cotillard also turned in a moving performance as Cobb's wife.

It's hard for me to review this film without giving too much away, so let me just say this: make the time to see this film in the theater. With the stunning visuals, great story telling, complicated characters, intense action scenes and a pay off that you wait for the entire film, this movie must be seen. At times, the suspense was so palpable that I caught myself holding my breath. While this movie is by no means perfect, it will certainly have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the dream thieves to complete their mission before they wake up.

Movie Review: Let the Right One In

My dear friend, who I will always refer to as The Josie on this blog, is the person who recommended that I see this movie because she thought it related to one of my writing projects. As I mentioned in my previous post, it takes me forever to get around to things, and it took me a solid eight months to finally watch this. After it was over, I could have cried for waiting so long. Such wasted time. Want a synopsis? Go here.

Vampire movies are pretty popular right now, especially vampire romances. While Twilight has its center in a fantastical, unbelievable world, Let the Right One In is deeply rooted in reality. Much of the believability of this story lies in the stunning performances of the two lead characters, Oskar and Eli. Kare Hedebrant plays Oskar, a middle schooler who is bullied at school and pretty much ignored at home. Lina Leandersson plays Eli, a vampire who is struggling to survive. Their relationship becomes the only bright spot in either one of their lives. I really enjoyed the unconditional love aspect of this film as well, seeing as how Eli was a literal monster. It was very touching.

The two of them portrayed the innocence of puppy love perfectly. In their debut roles, they act as though they have been acting for a lifetime. It felt like they were born to play these characters. From the first moment Oskar notices Eli's beauty to the final moment they share on screen, there is the sense that we are being blessed with the first glimpses of something huge. Their romance feels as epic as Romeo and Juliet's, and it feels just as dangerous too.

Although there is no real story line outside of Oskar trying to avoid his bullies, Eli dealing with her urges and their budding romance, I felt that the story moved along nicely with a sense of profluence throughout. Somehow, the complicated mixture of gore, horror and romance never seemed overwhelming, silly or confusing. In fact, the film felt more like a slice of their lives than an overall complete story.

When I really like something, I tend to get a little obsessed with it, and this is one of those things. I want to read the book (of the same name), and I want to know what happened to the characters after the end of the film. They feel like real people to me, much in part to the phenomenal job on the part of the cast.

There is also supposed to be a remake of this film coming out soon, titled Let Me In. I feel so strongly about this movie that this is kind of blasphemy. Let the Right One In is only two years old. Maybe if more time had passed I wouldn't feel so annoyed by the obvious jump on the bandwagon, but we'll see. I highly doubt that this film can be topped. I definitely think it's worth tracking down for a rent. Oskar and Eli definitely give Edward and Becca a run for best vampire romance.